Zahra's Paradise - New GN on Iran '09 for Middle School & High School Novel

[Marcy Prager]

Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil, is a graphic historical novel depicting the great street protests that occurred in Tehran, Iran, June 2009.  Three million protested for democracy.  So many sons went missing.  One particular son, Mehdi, went missing, and his mother and brother, who blogs about the times, search for him desperately.  The graphics are picture sharp, loaded with emotion, from taxi drivers caught in traffic to "crane hangings" to rape to tears of mothers.  In this book, students learn what "continuing education" really means in Tehran, and the shutting down of newspapers and journalists' cameras, wiping out any evidence of demonstrations.  Mehdi's brother, by writing his blog, keeps the truth and historical events live.  His spirit cannot be beaten or silenced.  The heinous events that occurred at this time are not silenced in part of this story.  The graphics are vivid and the words are meaningful.  There is a lot to learn in extraordinary graphic novels such as this one!

[Marcy Prager]

I read this book and the story is so compelling, while depicting the great street protests that occurred in Tehran, Iran!  This is truly one of the best graphic novels I have read in a while.  I "pinterested" this as one of my many suggested global reads for students.